Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

Molly50 · January 2016

Melclarity, in your pocket for the appointment tomorrow and Peggy we are having a huge party in your pocket tomorrow. I hope those tight jeans have large pockets.

PontiacPeggy · January 2016

Molly & MelClarity, THANK YOU! I am planning on leaving the tight jeans at home (yes, I WILL wear pants ) and wearing sweatpants (with pockets). They are definitely baggy. Really baggy. I have a BC zip up hoodie I'll wear too.

HUGS!!!

Brutersmom · January 2016

I was told by both the MO I saw that if the tumor is a high ER+ the anti hormone drugs the cancer cells will die from the lack of hormone that fuels the tumor.

MLP3 · January 2016

brutersmom- just curious why you are not getting chemo. I know everyone is so different.

Peggy- sweet pic of your dh and your dogs piggy toes hanging down are too cute! Good luck with your tests tomorrow;)

Day two of recovery and I'm still woozy! My throat and neck are sore from breathing tube and head position. Last night wasn't too great... I woke up so many times! My snb site hurts more than my lx site. It's a little swollen too but I'm keeping up with the ice. I've been taking only Tylenol during the day and one Vicodin at night to sleep. I might switch to Tylenol pm and get all of these anesthesia, narcotic yuckies out of my body.

I definitely have some nerve issues already in my left arm. It feels like it just can't relax. Feels like it's cramping up. I have permanent nerve damage in the same arm from neck surgery with numbness and tingling and dropping things. And if I have an itch, my hand never gets to the right spot. It has never limited me from anything(just can't hold a massive margarita glass😝) but I hope this snb doesn't add any further damage. Wouldn't that just suck😕

I have my follow up on 2/4... How long after surgery did you girls start treatment

HappyHammer · January 2016

MelClarity- so understand being emotional about tomorrow. Hope you get your plan in place so you can feel more in control.

Peggy- love the pic of your DH and pup. It's great and I see why you have it as part of your screensaver set. In your pocket tomorrow- glad you are wearing sweats with big pockets...we will be bouncing away! Know you will do great and be able to get answers to what you have been feeling. Keep us posted.

LTFly- glad you had a good time last night. Know what you mean about not wanting to do more chemo but LOVE your motto! Attitude is a big part of kicking cancer to the curb and you can do this!

DH and I went to for supper and "game night" (played charades) at a neighbors home last night. A delicious dinner of homemade chicken pot pie, salad and chocolate pound cake with chocolate icing and coffee for dessert. Am really staying away from sugar and I must say- the two bites of cake were soooo good- probably made better by the fact that I haven't had anything like that in awhile. It was a fun night.

MLP3 · January 2016

Gemma- thx for the tip about the sock under my bra strap... I am a bit swollen there and probably moving it too much.

Ltf- you look adorable in that picture and I love your boots!

Big football day today Peachy... GO PATS!!

MLP3 · January 2016

just in case you weren't sure who to cheer for today... Here's a little New England Patriots eye candy😝

PontiacPeggy · January 2016

MLP3, it was about 6 weeks post-surgery that I started my rads. My RO wanted me healed with good range of motion before starting. Makes it easier when holding your arms above your head. Take care and feel better. And, yup, the SLNB site is the most bothersome (at least for me). And thanks for being in my pocket!

HUGS!

1step · January 2016

Thanks to all of you for your support and well wishes! I've been pretty out of it since my surgery. Friday was newborn status (eat, sleep, smurf pee, repeat). Yesterday, I was able to shower and go for a short walk.

I hope everyone in the path of the winter storm stays safe.

Yay for more pics!

I know there was lots more I wanted to say, but a lot happened while I was sleeping, eating and peeing blue.

MLP3 · January 2016

1step... I'm in the same boat. Bed to couch to bathroom and back to bed. Eat, sleep, pee green. I haven't been overly hungry and I can only walk in my house as we have about 6" of snow and its in the teens. I'm not going to chance slipping on ice.Normally I'd be skiing or snow shoeing and it's killing me!

HappyHammer · January 2016

MLP3 and 1Step- Y'all take it easy- it has only been a few days. Rest, rest, rest! Ice, ice, ice.

MLP3- know you want to be out in that snow but, hey- based on the pics you posted- you're still finding ways to get the heart rate up.

Happy

MJS1266 · January 2016

Lovestofly, you look fantastic. I hated not having hair but my wig did become second nature. it was comfortable and easy to wear in the winter. By summer, I was tired of it. MJ

Brightsocks · January 2016

PontiacPeg- My fears are from not knowing to what if it is a over treatment?

PontiacPeggy · January 2016

BrightSocks, you will not be over-treated. My understanding is you get exactly the amount of radiation needed. Maybe reading this article here Radiation and the Types of Radiation section will help. When you meet with your RO, ask why he is choosing the type you are receiving. I think there are different standards/requirements for each type. So not everyone is eligible for every type. Hope this helps.

HUGS!

Brutersmom · January 2016

ML:P3 The overall benifit of chemo was only 6% reduction in risk. My dad died from a reaction to chemo. I know that times have changed but there are a lot of side effects with chemo. A 6% reduction for the risk of recurrence did not seem worth it. I was also a very high ER+/PR+. I should mention that that was over 5 years. I could still have a recurrence with or without.

Peachy2 · January 2016

Melclarity, sending you hugs and good thoughts for your doctor's visit tomorrow.

MLP3, EXCELLENT photos. What is wrong with our Pats? Wearing the lucky scarf and they are down going into the 4th quarter and blaming the altitude.

Hoping everyone is digging out from the storm well. It's very odd that we didn't get any snow in New Hampshire, though my Facebook is full of friends snow photos in GA, NC, PA, and VA.

Brightsocks · January 2016

What I mean by over treatment is how things have progressed in treatments over the past 10 years. My friend is in a test group for chemo or no chemo with 1-3 postive nodes. That will be a interesting paper to read once the study is completed. She was in the chemo group.

Melclarity · January 2016

Brightsocks - Thats a tough one to know I guess, my treatment was aggressive 4yrs ago for DCIS only, with lx, rads and tamoxifen...but I still got a recurrence, 2.5cm tumor same spot Grade 3. I think you just have to do what feels right for you. I Just cant wait til they advance treatments even more to what they have now

614 · January 2016

Dear Ary:

Your tx is very interesting. I did not even know that was a possibility. Good luck.

Dear Melclarity:

Good luck tomorrow. Ask a lot of questions and bring someone with you, if you can. Good luck.

Dear MLP and 1Step:

Feel well. Take it easy. Your bodies need to heal.

Dear Peggy:

Good luck tomorrow. I loved the picture of your hubby and your dog.

Dear LTF:

You always look outstanding. Feel well on Tuesday and beyond.

Dear Brit:

Hope you feel well.

Dear Brightsocks:

You may want to ask your MO and RO about all of the tx options. My Invasive Tubular Carcinoma was less than 1 cm. and I had no node involvement. My MO said that the lx would be the only tx necessary for ITC. I had rads because I also had pleomorphic ILC and bifocal pleomorphic LCIS plus numerous atypias. My MO said that I would not have needed rads for my Invasive Tubular Carcinoma. Hopefully, you won't need rads at all. If you do then it is because rads are necessary for the size of your tumor, how strongly positive your ER/PR status is, and because the doctor feels that this is the best tx plan so that you won't have a recurrence. Good luck. Ask many questions and bring someone with you to your appointments with your doctors.

MLP:

The pictures are getting better and better.

Brightsocks · January 2016

Thank you all for your responses this is such a complex puzzle. I am still weeks away from my plan so that give me time to ponder.

Molly50 · January 2016

Brightsocks, my sister works for a major cancer research hospital. She said we are headed in the direction of eventually not trying to cure cancer but treat it as a chronic disease with TX they are working on like immunotherapy and targeted therapy. readxsomewhere that some day each TX would be customized to the individual tumor. It would be so wonderful if some day chemo was a thing of the past.

HawaiiMom · January 2016

hi all,

I've had a difficult few days and so haven't posted much. I'm on my fourth round of TC and four days post chemo I started having hot flashes. Yikes! And then anxiety. Just this overwhelming feeling like I can't breathe and the walls are falling in. I finally got some happy pills on Saturday and it's helping me relax and sleep. I will try some acupuncture tomorrow and see my OBGYN wednesday. I have a feeling that I wasn't really in menopause though I haven't had a normal period for 20 months. And now chemo is putting me into menopause with these lovely hot flashes. Dang. Anyone have similar experiences?

Happy Hawaiian hugs to all!

ChiSandy · January 2016

Hi, everyone! Haven’t posted since early aft., and then all of a sudden I’ve missed 52 posts? Oy! Last night was terrific--tasting menu (9 courses with wine pairings) was just right--portions fairly small but enough to get the gist of whatever it was we were eating. Satisfied but not stuffed, and the wines (1-1.5 oz./pour) were just enough to complement the food and get us convivial w/o getting buzzed. Ubered down and taxied back home.

Lazy day today--slept in, and ordered out for Chinese/Japanese from the joint around the corner. Just enough food. Made a chocolate egg cream for dessert, but was out of Hershey’s. Had to use the organic Fox’s U-Bet (the syrup of my Bklyn childhood) from Whole Foods--too cloyingly sweet, not chocolaty enough. I think champagne and egg creams are my favorite drinks.

Melclarity · January 2016

Hawaiimom - I have major hot flashes rather sweats thanks to chemo and thrown into menopause. My oncologist prescribed Epexor said it helps. Chemo induced menopause is apparently one of the worst. As in severe

Well saw Oncologist, he was super happy with how I am 6 weeks post chemo. No neuropathy! I'm going on Arimidex. He still wants to consider mastectomy but purely if I had another recurrence I wouldn't have to worry about surgery or chemo. He also said though, it may never come back, there's no way of knowing. So see BS 3rd February for his opinion. If I do it I have to in next 6 months or not at all he said. No wiser..

iluvgsd5 · January 2016

Does anyone have any tips for shaving your armpit after lymph node removal? I don't start chemo for 3 weeks and I would like to remove the hair, my Onc said to use an electric razor versus a disposable. Any suggestions? I keep thinking it won't matter in 3 weeks but I also have to go back into in surgery this week for more tissue removal and want to look my best

Happy

Molly50 · January 2016

Jacqueline, I bought an electric razor after surgery and still use it. I am very paranoid about getting LE so will continue to use it. Melclarity, why do you need to have a mx in the next 6 months or not at all?

brithael · January 2016

Sandy- glad you had a great meal - it was at TRU, right? I want to go there as well as Alinea, Next, Girl and the Goat - the list goes on. So many restaurants, so little time.

I'm hoping my tastebuds are working for me next Sunday, as we're going to the brunch for my DH's birthday at a new place in Homewood - La Voute. It's a boutique hotel and restaurant in an old bank, and supposed to be really good.

This is low blood count week, so am taking temp twice a day, and hoping for the best. Constipation has moved forward in favor of diarrhea - can't catch a break here.

PontiacPeggy · January 2016

Brithael, I have a whole slew of cousins in Homewood! Haven't been there in a very long time though Hope your taste buds cooperate!

HUGS!

PontiacPeggy · January 2016

Jacqueline, I used a safety razor, never an electric. I also don't seem to have much underarm hair (it left with menopause I think). I never cut myself or had any issues. I was very careful at first.

HUGS!

MLP3 · January 2016

Mel- I'm a bit confused as well... Mx in 6 months or not at all?

How long after surgery can I shave my armpit? I was never told anything about which razor to use either. My post op appt isn't until 2/4 and I don't want to go all 70's😁

I'm off the Vicodin and taking only Tylenol regular strength. I have a diagnosed high tolerance to pain, so when I feel it, it must be pretty bad. But all in all I'm doing pretty good! Watched the Pats PATHETIC loss at my parents and even had a nice glass of red wine. I figured it would relax me and much better than another Vicodin. I hate medicine.

I've been juicing and eating a super clean vegan diet which I think is helping my recovery. And I drink an immune boosting juice daily so I don't go into treatments sick. My son is in high school n my daughter in grad school and teaching full time... Both bring home critters daily!

Question... I'm trying to prepare myself for what type of treatments I could be having. I know Tamoxifan for 5-10 years is part of the plan due to my ER+ at 95% and PR+ at 75%. Radiation was mentioned for 7-8 weeks daily, but they were still unsure until they looked at nodes and tumor. With grade 3 IDC and dcis... Could I also be looking at chemo?

Hope things went well for you today Peggy

Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

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